The Lagos State government has issued a statement on reports that it plans to demolish the remaining 2 of the 3 Ikoyi structures.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho in a statement issued on Wednesday, denied any plans at this time to take down the 2 edifices.
He said that the state government has not ordered the demolition adding that a tribunal to probe the incident of the collapse was only just inaugurated.
Omotoso added that that reports that the remaining 2 structures will be demolished is false and said that an integrity test is yet to be conducted on both of them.
He disclosed that 2 more bodies have been pulled out of the rubble while rescue efforts continue.
Gbenga Omotoso‘s statement:
UPDATE ON IKOYI COLLAPSED BUILDING
CONTRARY to speculations, no directive has been given for the demolition of the two high-rise buildings standing at the site of the 21-storey collapsed building in Ikoyi, Lagos. The Panel of Inquiry instituted into the collapse of the building has continued to sit and an integrity test on the two buildings is yet to be conducted on the two buildings. It is, therefore, wrong to assert or speculate that the buildings will be demolished.
The operation at the site of the collapsed building continues. Vehicular movement around the site has been smooth, following the reopening of the road. Two more bodies were recovered from the site today. The recovery of the two bodies has brought to 45 the number of bodies retrieved from the site.
The identification of bodies of the victims of the incident has continued at IDH, Yaba, Lagos Mainland. Thirty-two families have come forward to submit samples for DNA to identify bodies that they wish to claim. In cases where identification is clear and there are no arguments, the bodies will be released to the families.
A committee to supervise the identification and release of the bodies has begun work. It comprises senior officials of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice.
Gbenga Omotoso
Commissioner, Information and Strategy
A 21-storey skyscraper belonging to Femi Osibona, an international estate developer collapsed on Monday, 1st of November killing him, a close friend of his, Wale Bob-Oseni and many of the workers at the site.
15 people were rescued with varying degrees of injuries while at least 45 are confirmed dead.
Read also:
‘Why US-Based Bob-Oseni Was in Collapsed Ikoyi Skyscraper’ – Family
Government Issues Statement on Planned Demolition of Remaining Ikoyi Structures